With no leaves to speak of, its reddish-brown branches stretch out limply, giving off an air of quiet solitude. Even though it looks like this, it’s not dead or even dormant—this is just how it lives when healthy. The plant looks dead but is very much alive, earning it the quirky nickname "Zombie Plant." Maybe it’s actually an honorary title for such a unique plant. People often say, "It pretends to be dead to avoid being eaten by animals" (though there doesn’t seem to be any solid proof for this), and if that’s true, it’s a clever survival strategy—mimicking a dead branch to stay safe.

This plant is originally from the dry forests of southern Madagascar, where it quietly makes its home under shrubs or trees in the Didiereaceae family, hiding itself away. It has relatives that get by without leaves, like E. tirucalli , and fellow Madagascan E. stenoclada , but none have perfected the art of looking exactly like dead wood quite like this species—it’s truly one of a kind. Once considered a rare and pricey collector’s plant, its price has recently become more reasonable, and thanks to its toughness and easy-care nature, even beginners can give it a try now. Its care is basically the same as for other succulent Euphorbia: use well-draining soil, avoid overwatering, and watch out for the cold, which it dislikes. If you give it plenty of sun, the branches take on a bright pinkish hue; too much shade, and the color turns dull. The scientific name platyclada comes from the Greek for "flat (platys) branch (klados)". These days, it's considered the same as E. bosseri .

If you look at photos circulating among growers, there seem to be two forms: one that spreads out horizontally, and one that grows upright, something even specified on World Of Succulents. But it’s still not clear if these are just variations between individual plants, the result of different growing conditions, or if a completely different species has slipped in (the spreading form is thought to be the typical one).

• Difficulty

  

• Popularity

  

• Rarity

  

• Budget

  1,800JPY